Abstract:
Experiments are performed to determine the coherence properties of wave fields, produced
by the broadband stellar sources on the earth surface, from the study of spectral changes produced
on interference in the Young’s double slit experiment. The spectral degree of coherence obtained
experimentally in this study for four bright stars in the wavelength range from 325 nm to 660 nm is
in close agreement with the value that is expected theoretically from the known angular diameter of
the stars. It is shown that the spectral degree of coherence obtained experimentally by this spectral
interferometric technique could be used to determine the angular diameter of stars
